So Dead, My Love Read online

  “Tamara was ill. Her body had been given so that I could live until you came. Her heart finally gave out on her. I said goodbye and thanked her.”

  Samantha was filled with so much conflicting emotions, she couldn’t handle all of it. Tears swelled in her eyes. “Tamara said my love was all you needed. My love would make you live and break the curse.”

  When Lara looked at her, she wasn’t smiling, and there was a certain sadness in her eyes.

  “My innocent Samantha, your love did free me from my rest.” She wiped Samantha’s tear stained cheeks.

  “Now listen to me. Tamara knew only what we chose to pass down to her and the others before her. The Karnov are vampires. We will always need blood. Human blood. It is true that the Book of Karnov speaks of a savior among the Karnov Clan that will free us of the curse of darkness and death, but the verses are vague and there is little to understand. We had faith that that someone was me, but I have not experienced such an epiphany or received powers of enlightenment yet.”

  She stopped and hesitantly ran her hands down Samantha’s arms. Samantha collapsed on her. Lara took her and held her tightly, her voice blowing wisps of Samantha’s hair.

  “Dearest Samantha, what you have brought me is the one thing the Karnovs never had and never hoped to have. To be able to experience love, the freedom of living. That is more precious than blood itself.” Lara pulled Samantha away so that they faced each other, eyes locked.

  “You have no idea what it was like to merely exist for the hunt. For the feeding. Like an animal. Day after day, only death and blood. We could never feel life. We wanted that back. And I wanted to love and be with you. You see, darling, you were always flesh and blood. A mortal.”

  There was passion in her voice and the fire in those dark eyes held Samantha frozen. “The power of the prophecy promised the Karnovs extraordinary opportunities. Wilmon wished to use it to subjugate the human race, destroy the very emotions I sought to recapture. I couldn’t let him do that. I sought to escape my clan.”

  “But Lara, why did your family lock you up in that coffin?”

  “Wilmon and most of the family didn’t know what to make of the prophecy in the ancient book. So they entombed me and waited for the chosen one, you, to come back to me. Samantha, I can feel the day now. I feel sad, happy, thirsty, cold, hot, hungry for you. I don’t fully understand the prophecy and what this new-found life means, but we will find it together. I will search the family book once we have grown comfortable with each other and I’ve found my ways in this new life. Tamara made sure to send the book to a safe place. It will be waiting for us when we are ready. Now that I have you and been freed, we can face our destinies and the future of the Karnov family as one, without fear.” she stopped and smiled.

  Confusion and doubts hit Samantha like a hard wind. “Why do you say that I’m the “chosen one” and that we’ve always been together?” Samantha felt the fingers of fear clawing inside her. She held on to Lara tightly. “Please, Lara, I’m afraid. Tell me who I am. I’m so full of questions.”

  Lara caressed her and wiped the tears that had formed on Samantha’s eyes. “This might be hard for you my darling, but listen to me.” She brought Samantha’s face to look at her. “Do you believe in reincarnation?”

  Samantha looked at her, perplexed. Behind them, a log sparked and fell into the fireplace, the fire blazing anew. She had never thought much about religion or beliefs of life after death.

  “I’ve never had any beliefs. I don’t know what there is after death.”

  Lara smiled, her eyes reflecting the orange specks of the fire behind them. “Your essence, Samantha, your soul has been reincarnated many times in eternity. And always, you have been mine. But you were mortal, not Karnov, not of our world. I struggled much to keep you safe from Wilmon and his followers. I have always loved you. So you see, when Wilmon and some of the Karnov read the verses in the Book of Karnov, they interpreted the coming of the chosen one to set me free as someone who would be my eternal love. Once I was free, I was a potential threat to Wilmon’s dominance within the Clan.”

  “My dreams!” Could they have been past lives?

  Lara nodded. “You were experiencing flashbacks of past lives, Samantha. I was there. You will remember everything eventually.”

  While Samantha didn’t believe in reincarnation, Lara believed it and that made Samantha feel safe. At least maybe now, her nightmares would end. All her fears suddenly fell away like layers of old wallpaper from Samantha’s mind. Lara reached out and gently put her fingers on Samantha’s lips, pressing one finger into her mouth and across her teeth. She smiled like the proud parent of a new baby.

  “See darling, you are ready to become my love in body and soul. Here, feel for yourself.”

  She took Samantha’s hand and placed it into her mouth. Samantha ran a thumb over suddenly sharper canine teeth. She pulled her hand away quickly, shocked. Her teeth did feel longer, sharper.

  “Why would this be happening to me, Lara? I’m not a Karnov. You said it yourself. How can I become a vampire like yourself?”

  “We have exchanged blood, dearest. My blood runs in your veins. Your teeth will help you feed. They are like what you call a fork or spoon.”

  Lara suddenly inched closer to Samantha and began to kiss her neck, working her tongue under the ear then further down. Samantha closed her eyes, the feel of the wet saliva both cool and hot.

  Then Samantha felt Lara’s teeth pinching the skin, playfully teasing. “It is snowing outside, perhaps for days. We will feed off each other and I will show you all,” Lara whispered, her voice deep with passion.

  Samantha flung her head back, opening herself up to her. For whatever Lara wanted. The phone rang. The shrill sound of the ringer echoing unheeded through the house. And when Carmen left a message, her words went unheard.

  Outside, the snow continued to fall. It fell for two days.

  Chapter 13

  Samantha thought it a crime to cut anything from that beautiful mane that was Lara’s hair, but she had to face the fact that it just wasn’t practical. While it might have been the preferred look in the eighteenth century, it would draw way too much attention today. Here in Bayton Isle, it would be a magnet for the gossip mill. This, they didn’t need.

  So Wednesday morning, once the snows stopped and melted away, the trip to Claire’s Beauty on the Isle had been a necessity. The mass of auburn hair on the floor surrounding the chair was like some growing mountain. Claire had to keep moving it aside with her foot and even joked about gathering it all up and selling it in bulk to Nettie Albright, who made the most beautiful dolls on the island.

  When she was done, Claire handed a mirror to Lara and swung the chair around for Lara to approve the back of her hair as well. It was short. It looked like something Sharon Stone had once done to her hair and a hairstyle that Samantha had admired in the popular magazines. A pixie, she thought they called it. And it worked wonders on Lara Karnov.

  Lara oozed elegance. From the way she walked to the fluid motion of her eyes, the allure she commanded was unmistakable. Samantha couldn’t keep her eyes off her. Lara, only too aware of her impact, manipulated the moment by casting sexy looks at Samantha.

  “They wear the hair this short?” Lara was mesmerized by her new image in the mirror. “Not everyone can wear it this way, honey, but you’ve got the looks for it,” Claire said, proud of her work.

  She took the mirror Lara handed back at her and smiled across the room at Samantha, seeking her approval as well. “I have to say, I’ve never seen hair as long as yours around the Isle.”

  Lara got up from the chair and with Claire close behind her, walked to Samantha.

  “Mostly older folks around here, you know,” Claire continued. She was being honest, of course. Bayton Isle was mostly older, hard working Islanders who had never left or well to do singles and couples looking for something different.

  Lara did look stunning. For the first time, Samantha saw the lon
g, slender neck exposed. So delicate. She wanted to kiss it, run her teeth over the smooth skin.

  “Samantha dear, where shall we go to next?” Lara broke her concentration.

  Samantha was conscious of Claire eying them curiously.

  “Is your friend from away?” Claire asked bluntly.

  Samantha knew the questions would come eventually. She didn’t want Lara to answer any of them.

  “Yes, New York,” she added quickly, paying Claire with a twenty and a ten and walking briskly to the door, tugging Lara with her. “Keep the change, Claire. The hair looks great.”

  “Now you two be careful. With the murders and the crazy talk around the island, it’s enough to frighten the best of us.” Claire turned around and stuffed the bills in her smock pocket.

  Samantha stopped short, leaving Lara mesmerized by the display of the colorful plastic bottles of shampoo, hairsprays and gels.

  “Have they got any leads?” Samantha had to hold back the curiosity in her voice.

  “Nothing new. Haven’t you seen all the FBI in town? The hotel is booked solid. And the churches are trying their hardest to discourage all the talk of the Karnov curse.”

  Samantha’s head began to throb. She looked back at Lara, who was now playing with a hair dryer. It was important she find out if she and Lara were in danger.

  “I haven’t even heard of a Karnov curse. What are they saying?”

  Claire looked at her kind of funny and smiled. “How long have you been here? Can’t believe you haven’t heard of the Karnovs. Legend has it they were vampires and werewolves who cursed this island.” She laughed out loud and put a hand in the air. “Some folks just have nothing better to engage their imaginations in. Don’t worry, with all these extra FBI agents on the Isle, they’ll catch the maniac responsible.”

  Samantha walked slowly to Lara, grabbed her arm, smiled back at Claire and waved goodbye. Back outside, she let go of the breath she’d been holding. Was it her imagination, or did the normally quiet main drag of Bayton Isle appear busier? Scattered in the corners were groups of people. And there were more cars, big, non-descript sedans. FBIissue transportation. She felt a panic rising in her chest. Should she tell Lara? Was Lara even aware of the dangers? If she was, it didn’t seem to concern her at all.

  The snow had brought a briskness to the air. Things always seemed to gain a particular kind of clarity after a heavy snow. She decided to try and put her worries aside for the moment. No one had come knocking on her door yet, and there were more pressing concerns. Samantha had to do something about Lara’s wardrobe, since she had none. She was wearing Samantha’s clothes for the moment, but that wouldn’t serve as a long-term solution.

  This posed a minor inconvenience. Bayton Isle was not mainland Maine. The only clothing shops on the island were of the general store type, whose special emphasis was on heavy clothing and casual wear.

  The only obvious option was to take the ferry to Portland and do the shops there. No one knew Samantha in Portland, so her anonymity was assured. Lara agreed and as they proceeded to the parked VW, a voice calling Samantha’s name stopped them in their tracks. Samantha froze. It was Carmen.

  She came bouncing toward them wearing gray pants, Nikes, a green windbreaker, and a big smile on her face. She hugged Samantha, casting a quick look at Lara standing behind her. She turned her eyes to look more closely at Samantha.

  “Hey, babe. I’ve been trying like crazy to get a hold of you all week. Didn’t you get my messages? I was ready to come knocking on your door hoping I wouldn’t find you at the bottom of the stairs again. Is everything okay?”

  Samantha smiled and shook her head. “No. I’m sorry, Carmen. I have company staying with me.”

  Carmen kept looking at her, eyes amused. “Sam, babe, you could have returned at least one call.”

  While Samantha knew Carmen was being easy on her, she had dreaded this moment. She had lain awake at night wishing she could just make it all go away. Knowing that it would come, she worked out all the lies she would end up telling Carmen. Instinctively, she inched back toward Lara, reaching out and bringing her to stand beside her.

  “Carmen, this is Sara...Sara Martine. She’s, uh, a rep from Barnum Books. We had some problems with the contract and she offered to work it out with me.” She wanted to grab Lara’s hand and squeeze hard. “She’ll be staying for awhile.”

  Samantha noticed Lara’s gaze linger over Carmen, noticing all. Smiling, Lara held out her hand.

  “How very pleased to meet you, Carmen.”

  “Likewise. I hope you enjoy your stay.” Carmen gave Lara her hand and one of her diplomatic smiles. She focused her attention back on Samantha.

  “Hey Sam, you look a little pale. You doing okay?”

  “Yes, of course. As a matter of fact, Sara and I were thinking of taking the ferry to Portland and do some shopping, maybe even head down to Freeport to the Anne Klein Outlet.” She laughed nervously. “It seems like so long that I bought something new for my closet.” Another big lie.

  Carmen cast another look at Lara. Would she know it was Samantha’s black knit top, khaki pants and camel jacket that Lara was wearing? Samantha wanted to run.

  “Well that’s great,” Carmen said with enthusiasm, “Do you mind if I take that ferry ride with you? I just closed up the shop. I needed to take this order in to the mainland.” Smiling, she tapped the manila envelope she was holding. “It’s a banner design I’ve got to get printed for the annual Fire and Police Fund Drive.”

  It was not the ideal situation. Samantha’s stomach jumped with panic, but there was no way she could say no and be civil with her friend. Carmen would be suspicious.

  “Let me just get my wallet back at the store.” Carmen said.

  Watching Carmen walk back to her shop, Samantha let her eyes rest on the newspaper stand that had been hiding behind Carmen. The headlines on the Bayton Chronicle froze in her mind. Minister’s Wife Found Dead. Samantha must have tipped backwards, because Lara suddenly reached out and took hold of her arm. A momentary blackout? How long had it been since she’d picked up a newspaper?

  “Lara…” Her gaze guided Lara to the newspaper holder.

  Lara didn’t react. Her nonchalant manner perplexed Samantha. She really had killed Mrs. Peabody! Samantha was having trouble breathing.

  “Sam?” It was Carmen. She’d come back and was standing in front of her, concern on her face. She followed Samantha’s frightened look to the Bayton Chronicle.

  “Sam, you didn’t know?”

  Samantha, knowing her friend well, knew Carmen could tell everything by looking in her eyes.

  “Your soul truly does shine through your eyes,” she had always said to Samantha. This had now become a dangerous thing. Carmen kept eying her.

  “Pastor Peabody spent close to half a day with Police Chief Murphy. He kept insisting two wolves that walked like men attacked his wife and fled into the woods through the back yard.”

  Samantha was getting paler.

  “It appears she doesn’t want to hear of these things,” Lara interrupted.

  “No. I mean, yes, I do,” Samantha blurted. She had to regain her composure.

  “Sam?”

  “Carmen, I just can’t believe I didn’t hear a thing about this.”

  She became aware that she hadn’t seen newspapers around her house for over a week. Had they discontinued her subscription? Had she paid them?

  “Well, you were probably busy with your business associate.” Carmen looked again at Lara, then continued. “I spent some time with the Chief yesterday morning. He was exhausted with all the crazy things going on around here. By the way, you do know Karnov Mansion burned?”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “Well, the Chief figured he and the FBI could wrap things up with Tommy Mills dead. They officially closed the case. And then this happened.”

  “I hate to interrupt, but don’t you think we should be on our way to...Portland, Samantha?” Lara planned her inte
rruption well, except Samantha wasn’t ready. She wanted to know all the details.

  “Sara’s right, we probably should be getting on.”

  She turned around, grabbed both Carmen and Lara by the arm, and proceeded down the wooden walk to her car.

  “Carmen, finish telling me about Peabody on the way to the ferry landing.”

  ***

  The trip to Portland proved to be more of an invigorating experience than Samantha expected. She felt energized, more alive than she had been in weeks. Carmen had been chatty the entire ferry ride, talking at length about Peabody’s case.

  Old Pastor Peabody had evidently been coming in from a late night prayer meeting when he heard a commotion in his back yard. Said he found his wife dead in a pool of blood, throat torn open. Insisted up and down he saw two large wolves or wild dogs walking away into the woods. Walking away. On two feet.

  Chief Murphy calmed him down enough into accepting he might have suffered some kind of hallucination due to shock, that he probably did see two wild animals running away. But not like human beings.

  “There aren’t any wolves on the island, are there?” Samantha asked, afraid of the answer.

  “Chief doesn’t think so, but he’s going to check with the Forest and Park Headquarters on the mainland and on Mt. Desert. It’s possible someone might be doing placement programs with wolves. They’ve been doing that in some parts of the upper Northern Great Lakes areas. Certain wolves are on the endangered list and some groups are trying to relocate them to more friendly areas, away from hunters’ sights.”

  Samantha remained silent. She didn’t know what to say. She felt a greasy, sick feeling curling in her stomach. Lara was just as silent.

  When they arrived at Portland, Carmen left them, heading out to drop off her banner order. She wouldn’t be spending the day with them, much to Samantha’s relief.

  Samantha and Lara spent the day shopping downtown Portland. Lara was like a child in a Candy Land world of the 21st century. The shopped at Bertini’s, Carla’s, Chantal and Carla Bella for chic clothes and Samantha picked up a couple of more casual and sensible sweaters and pants at L.L. Bean. It was fun to watch Lara pick and choose a wardrobe. She looked fantastic in anything she wore, of course, but in the end, she gravitated towards neutrals in color—beige, brown, white, blues and black—although a splash of green and orange intruded here and there. A woman like Lara Karnov commanded such presence that whatever the choices, all eyes would have to marvel at her grace.